** While I'm personally wholly AGAINST utilizing UN to do so, I understand that the campaigners are using what international platforms that currently exist TO bring awareness to the issue. For that, they should be commended and supported by coalitions of even disparate diverse multitudes of political and geopolitical sub-factions, where each individual's moral principles align.

Machines are starting to take the place of human soldiers on the battlefield. http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/11/19/ba... Some military and robotics experts predict that "killer robots" -- fully autonomous weapons that could select and engage targets --- could be developed within 20-30 years.

Noel Sharkey is a multi-disciplinarian with a career spanning psychology, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering and robotics. He holds a PhD in psychology/cognitive science and has an honorary science doctorate DSc. He is a chartered electrical engineer and a chartered information technology professional. Noel holds fellowships at the Institution of Engineering and Information Technology, the Royal Institute of Navigation, the British Computer Society and the Royal Society of Arts. He is a member of the Experimental Psychology Society and also Equity, the actors union. Noel is best known to the public for his frequent appearances in the media as a robot expert. His current research passion is on the ethics of robot applications including care, policing, military, crime, sex, transport and medicine.

http://www.ted.com In this powerful talk, P.W. Singer shows how the widespread use of robots in war is changing the realities of combat. He shows us scenarios straight out of science fiction -- that now may not be so fictitious.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

This debate, the third in a year-long series from Intelligence Squared and Google+, took place on 27th February 2013. A panel of world experts tackled the motion, 'America's Drone Campaign is Both Moral and Effective'.

Panel: How Long Before Robotics in Warfare is the Norm?http://youtu.be/BrYtm5L8DnY
CCTV America (Official Chinese State Govt TV)
Published on Aug 9, 2013

Anchor Elaine Reyes leads a discussion with Stanford University Professor of Robots Noel Sharkey, and Mike Lyons, Senior Fellow at the Truman National Security Project, on the future of unmanned robots in the military, and the status of the various machines being developed for use on the battlefield.

South Korea's military has deployed machine-gun-toting robots along the heavily fortified border with North Korea, and a related promo video delivers more shock and awe than Kim Jong-Il singing the blues.

Samsung Techwin and other firms developed the SGR-1 robots, and they have been installed on a trial basis at a post in the central part of the Demilitarized Zone, Yonhap News quoted military officials as saying.

The $200,000 SGR-1s are remote-operated sentry bots that work in tandem with cameras and radar systems. They can detect intruders with heat and motion sensors, and challenge them through audio and video communications. The bots can also fire on targets with 5.5-millimeter machine guns and 40-millimeter automatic grenade launchers.

Technological colossus South Korea is pressing ahead with efforts to join Israel and America in the white-hot field of killer robots.

Korean sources have announced that Samsung, a company better known for its consumer goods, is manufacturing the SGR-A1 sentry unit for deployment on the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea.

The South Korean armed forces have announced that a year-long trial of robotic guard systems versus human troops has been judged a failure for the mechanoids. South Korea remains committed to significant automation of its defences, but intends to move forward with different kit - possibly with overseas involvement.

Defense News reports that the present robotic network was described as "unfit for combat" by South Korean officials, following lengthy comparison of the kit against regular front-line fighting fleshies. The $4m, year-long pilot project was run by Samsung, and is believed to have included the company's SGR-A1 robotic security station, which features electro-optic sensors and a weapons mount for a light machine gun, gas-bomb launcher or rubber-bullet weapon.

*** As always, our politically attuned Taiwanese friends at NMA.tv's hilarious take on all this:

The South Korean armed forces have deployed a number of robot border guards along the Demilitarized Zone bordering North Korea. The robots, developed by Samsung and a local university, feature a machine gun and use heat and motion sensors to detect intruders. The robots, which the army hopes will eventually free up troops for other less tedious duties, are being tested ahead of a full deployment.

Dr. Noel Sharkey joins the broadcast to talk about the future of robots for police and military use. The elites could try an end run around the Constitution by deploying robots equipped with weapons that, unlike human soldiers, won't refuse to obey unlawful and unconstitutional orders.

Dr. Noel Sharkey joins the broadcast to talk about the future of robots for police and military use. The elites could try an end run around the Constitution by deploying robots equipped with weapons that, unlike human soldiers, won't refuse to obey unlawful and unconstitutional orders.

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